President’s welcome to Canterbury Cricket Week

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the The Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence in Canterbury for the 168th Canterbury Cricket Week, the oldest cricket festival in the country.

I know that this festival is a grand occasion for our stakeholders, members and supporters and it’s fantastic that this year’s renewal features three ties against our nearest neighbours and rivals on the field: Sussex, Essex and Surrey.

Traditions like ‘Canterbury Week’ are an important part of the culture of cricket in our community and in a county where we enjoy the second-highest participation rates in the country in our sport, it’s imperative that we continue to celebrate the connection between Kent Cricket and the local community.

It’s also great to see that interest in cricket has spiralled after England’s World Cup win and also our strong start to the Vitality Blast – two tournaments that have put cricket back towards the forefront of people’s minds in our county.

Our bumper attendances this year are a reflection of this but are also a testament to the hard work done on and off the field by the players, coaches, staff and community coaches that put this club ahead of everything else they do.

I look forward to welcoming guests to the President’s Marquee during this week and also the thousands of supporters that will be coming to watch Kent play.

I hope you enjoy the festival and remember to keep getting behind the boys!

Chris Swadkin​

Find out more about Canterbury Cricket Week here >>>